ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team erased a 16-point first-half deficit Saturday afternoon (Dec. 7) behind a combined 48 points from sophomore guard Kyree Smith (Baltimore, Md./City) and first-year forward Yassine Idrissa (Rockville, Md./Wootton). St. Mary's College (5-3, 3-0 UEC) notched a 77-65 United East Conference win over University of Valley Forge (4-7, 1-2 UEC) for the Seahawks' fifth consecutive victory.
 
How It Happened

• Valley Forge rolled out to a 24-8 advantage at 12:18 on 8-of-13 shooting, including draining four of its six three-point attempts. SMCM struggled to find its way early on, going 3-for-10 from the floor and turning the ball over five times in the first eight minutes of the game.
• Smith and senior captain Jake Koverman (Severna Park, Md./Southern) carried St. Mary's College on a 22-7 run with eight points each, including two Koverman three-pointers, to pull within 31-30 with 6:01 remaining in the first half.
• Isaiah Reece's three-pointer at 3:27 gave the Patriots a four-point lead; however, the Seahawks closed out the half on a 9-0 push to stake a 39-34 advantage as Smith scored all nine points. Smith led all scorers at the break with 18.
• Koverman sparked a 12-3 start to the second half with his third triple of the day, giving SMCM its biggest lead of the game – 51-37 at 16:14.
• St. Mary's College never relinquished the lead, but Valley Forge did not go away quietly, putting together a 17-4 run over a five-minute span to close the gap to 55-54 at 11:32. Christian Renninger paced the Patriots in their rally with nine points while Michael Gaines knocked down two triples.
• Reece knotted the game at 64-all at 5:37 but the Seahawks squelched the comeback with a 13-1 run over the final 4:37.

 
Inside the Box Score

• SMCM dominated the paint and the boards as the hosts outscored Valley Forge, 50-30, in the key while posting its biggest rebounding margin of the season, 43-28, as Idrissa hauled in a career- and game-best 14 caroms.
• St. Mary's College collected a season-best 11 steals and finished shooting 49.2-percent from the floor. The Seahawks also went 12-of-15 from the free throw line.
• Valley Forge's bench helped them keep the game close as the reserves put up 21 points.

 
St. Mary's College Game Notes

• Smith poured in a career- and game-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting with 18 of those points coming in the first half. Smith also notched four steals.
• Idrissa recorded his third double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, adding two steals as well.
• Koverman contributed 16 points, eight in each half, and chipped in eight boards.

 
Valley Forge Game Notes

• Three Patriots scored in double figures with Gaines' 16 points leading the way. Renninger finished with 15 while Reece notched 14 off the bench.

 
Up Next for the Seahawks

• Dec. 14 vs. Misericordia (4-2) – St. Mary's City, Md. (MPOARC Arena) – 3 pm (Seahawk Holiday Classic)
• Dec. 15 vs. SUNY Maritime (5-2) – St. Mary's City, Md. (MPOARC Arena) – 3 pm (Seahawk Holiday Classic)

 
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